Corporate Headshot Tips: How to Prepare for a Business Headshot

Most corporate headshot tips come down to three things: pick a photographer who specialises in portraits, wear plain clothes you feel good in, and relax so you look like yourself. A good headshot shows your face clearly, in even light, against a background that doesn't compete with you. Whether the photo is for your website, LinkedIn or a tender, a little preparation matters more than the camera.

What is a headshot photo?

A headshot is a portrait framed from about the chest up, with the face as the focus. Business headshots are used on staff pages, LinkedIn profiles, proposals, email signatures, award entries and media releases.

A corporate headshot is the same thing taken for a business, usually with a plain or softly blurred background so every person in the team matches. Customers use these photos to put a face to the name before they call, so they do a lot of quiet work for your brand.

How should a headshot look?

A good headshot looks like you on a good day. Use this checklist when you review the shots:

• Your eyes are sharp and looking at the camera
• The light is even, with no harsh shadows under the eyes or nose
• The background is plain or blurred and doesn't distract
• Your clothes are simple and fit well
• Your expression is relaxed and natural, not stiff or forced
• For a team, every photo has the same background, lighting, crop and editing style

How do you prepare for a corporate headshot?

These professional headshot tips cover the days before the shoot:

• Choose the right photographer. Not every photographer is a portrait photographer. Look for a portfolio full of headshots, not just weddings, food or events, and talk to them before you book. If you feel comfortable with them, it shows in the photos.
• Know where the photos will be used. A website banner, a LinkedIn profile and a printed brochure need different crops. Tell the photographer so they shoot wide enough.
• Plan your outfit early. Try it on the week before, check it's clean and pressed, and bring a second option.
• Keep grooming to your normal routine. A haircut a week before, not the day before, settles in better. Wear your usual make-up rather than much more than normal.
• Sleep, water and time. Tired eyes show on camera. Arrive a few minutes early so you aren't rushed into the first frame.

What should you wear for a business headshot?

The most useful business headshot tips are about clothes, because they're the part you control. Wear something that fits well and that you feel confident in. Solid colours work better than busy patterns, small checks or large logos, which pull attention away from your face.

Mid tones such as navy, grey, green and burgundy suit most people. Avoid colours that match the background, or you'll blend into it. For a team shoot, agree on a dress code so the photos sit well together on your website. If you're not sure what suits you, ask a friend with a good eye for a second opinion.

Can you smile in a headshot?

Yes. A natural smile makes you look approachable, which is what most customers want from the person they're about to call. A closed mouth smile and a full smile both work; take some of each and choose later.

A few headshot posing tips help the smile look real:

• Turn your shoulders slightly away from the camera, then turn your face back towards it
• Push your chin slightly forward and down to define your jawline
• Relax your hands, or leave them out of the frame
• Breathe out just before the shot

If you freeze in front of the camera, try this: give the photographer the biggest, silliest grin you can for a few frames. As you loosen up, it softens into a relaxed smile that looks like you.

Why add environmental portraits to your headshots?

A standard headshot is a must, but once you have it, ask for a few environmental portraits too. These show people at work in their own setting: at the desk, at the bench or with a client. They're useful on service pages because they show customers what to expect before they book.

People also tend to relax when they're doing their normal job, so these shots often look more natural than the posed ones. In our corporate headshots shoot for Eastern Eye Centre, the team received both standard headshots and environmental portraits of staff with their equipment.

Do headshots need to be professional?

For business use, yes. Anyone can take a photo on a phone, but the difference shows when a page of team photos sits side by side. Most businesses weigh up three options:

1. Reuse old photos. Crops from holiday or party snaps, each taken in a different place and light. Free, but they look mismatched and casual.
2. Do it in house. Someone brings a camera to the office and lines people up against a wall. It saves money, but uneven lighting, closed eyes and the hours spent editing add up.
3. Book a professional. One planned session, consistent lighting and editing, and photos that make the whole team look ready for business.

Your photos are part of your brand. When a customer sees you've invested in good images, it builds trust in the rest of what you do. In short: hire a professional to look professional.

What we see when regional businesses plan team headshots

We're a marketing agency, not a photography studio. When a business asks us for headshots, we plan what the photos must show, write the shot list, book photographers we work with and prepare the files for the website, social media and print. Usage rights are agreed in writing before the shoot, and anyone identifiable signs a release.

The planning is where most of the value sits. A few planning choices make the biggest difference:

• Teams photographed one person at a time over a year end up with mismatched backgrounds and lighting, so book everyone on one day where you can
• Staff who know what to wear and what will happen on the day are noticeably more relaxed
• Adding a handful of environmental portraits to the same session gives the website far more to work with than headshots alone

Our commercial photography page explains how we run a shoot, and our creative and design team puts the finished photos to work across your website and marketing.

What makes a good LinkedIn headshot?

LinkedIn headshot tips follow the same rules, with a tighter crop. LinkedIn shows your photo as a small circle, so frame from the shoulders up with your face filling most of the space. Look at the camera, keep the background plain, and use a recent photo that matches how you look when you walk into a meeting.

How much do corporate headshots cost?

It depends on the job. We price photo shoots to the job rather than from a set list, because the cost depends on:

• How many people need photos
• Whether the shoot is at your premises or another location
• Whether you also want environmental portraits
• Retouching and how many final images each person receives
• Travel, styling and extra locations

Tell us what you need and we'll quote before anything is booked. Contact Rock Solid Marketing to plan headshots for your team.

Frequently asked questions

How do you take a professional headshot?

The simplest way is to book a photographer who specialises in portraits. If you have to do it yourself, stand facing a window for soft light, use a plain background, set the camera at eye level on a timer or have someone else take it, and take plenty of frames so you can pick your favourite.

How do you take a good headshot?

Good light, a plain background and a relaxed expression matter most. Wear simple clothes in solid colours, turn your shoulders slightly, and look straight at the lens. These tips for a good headshot work whether you're working with a photographer or using a phone.

Can headshots be in black and white?

Yes, and black and white can look classic and consistent across a team. Colour is still the safer choice for most business uses, because it's the version people expect on LinkedIn and staff pages. Ask for both versions so you can choose later.

How often should you update your headshot?

Update it when you no longer look like the photo: a new hairstyle, glasses, beard or a few years passing. Customers expect to recognise you when they meet you, and an old photo makes the first meeting slightly awkward.

Can you wear glasses in a headshot?

Yes, if you wear them every day. Clean them before the shoot and let the photographer know, so they can angle the lights to avoid reflections in the lenses.